- alloy
- a mixture of two or more metals.
- annealing
- heating blanks (planchets) in a furnace that softens the metal.
- archiving
- to file or collect.
- assay
- to analyze and determine the purity of metal.
- bag mark
- a mark on a coin from contact with other coins in a mint bag.
- bi-metallic
- a coin comprised of two different metals, bonded together.
- blank
- another word for planchet, the blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped.
- bullion
- precious metals like platinum, gold, or silver in the form of bars or other storage shapes. Bullion coins are coins that are made of these metals and sold at bullion prices.
- business strike
- a coin intended for circulation (as opposed to a proof coin specially made for collectors).
- bust
- a portrait on a coin, usually including the head, neck and upper shoulders.
- circulating coin
- a coin that's used in daily life as money.
- clad coinage
- coins that have a core and outer layer made of different metals. Since 1965, all United States dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars have been clad.
- collar
- a metal piece that restrains the expanding metal of a planchet during striking.
- commemorate
- to honor an outstanding person, place, or event in history.
- commemorative
- a special coin, issued to honor an outstanding person, place, or event in history.
- condition
- the physical state of a coin.
- counterfeit
- a fake coin or other piece of currency made so that people will think it's genuine.
- currency
- any kind of money - coins, paper money, wampum - that's used as a medium of exchange.
- date set
- a collection of coins all marked with the same year.
- denomination
- the different values of money. United States coins come in these denominations: pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars.
- designer
- the artist who creates a coin's design (but doesn't necessarily engrave the design into a coinage die).
- die
- a piece of metal that has the coin's design (pictures, value, and mottoes). The coining press holds both the front and back dies.
- edge
- the outer border of a coin, considered the "third side" (not to be confused with "rim"). Some coins feature lettering, reeding, or ornamental designs on their edges.
- emblem
- symbol or mark used as an identifying mark.
- engraver
- the person who cuts the design into a coinage die (not necessarily the designer).
- error
- a coin improperly produced but not found and recycled.
- face value
- the sum for which a coin can be spent or exchanged (a dime's face value is 10ยข) as opposed to its collector or precious metal value.
- field
- the portion of a coin's surface not used for design or inscription.
- grade
- describes how much - or how little - wear and tear coins have. The ANA scale measures - or grades - coins from "About Good - 3" to "Perfect Uncirculated - 70".
- hairlines
- tiny lines or scratches on coins, usually caused by cleaning or polishing.
- incuse
- opposite of relief, the part of a coin's design that is pressed into the surface.
- inscription
- the legend or lettering on a coin.
- intrinsic value (bullion value)
- how much the metal in a coin is worth.
- key date
- a scarce date required to complete a collection, usually more difficult to find and afford.
- legal tender
- coins, dollar bills, or other currency issued by a government as official money.
- legend
- principal lettering on a coin.
- medal
- a metal object resembling a coin but not used for legal tender.
- medallion
- a large medal.
- medium of exchange
- anything that people agree has a certain value.
- mint
- a place where coins are made. The United States Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver produce all circulating coins for this country.
- mint facilities
- there are four production facilities where coins and medals are made - Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point, New York.
- mint luster
- the dull, frosty, or satiny shine found on uncirculated coins.
- mint mark
- a small letter on a coin identifying which mint struck the coin.
- mint police
- this special force protects all Mint buildings, including the four production facilities, the headquarters building, and Fort Knox
- mint set
- a complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a particular mint.
- mint state
- same as uncirculated.
- mintage
- the quantity of coins produced.
- motto
- a phrase or slogan on a coin that is symbolic of a country's ideals.
- MS-63
- a high grade in the coin grading scale created by the American Numismatic Association.
- numismatics
- the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, paper bills, and medals.
- obsolete
- a coin design or type that is no longer produced.
- obverse
- the front (or "heads") side of a coin. It usually has the date, mint mark, and main design.
- off-center
- describes a coin that has received an off-center strike from the coin press and has portions of its designs missing.
- overstrike
- a new coin produced with a previously struck coin used as the planchet.
- pattern
- an experimental or trial piece, generally of a new design or metal.
- pickle
- to soak in a liquid for some time.
- planchet
- the blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped.
- precious metals
- gold, silver, and other rare metals that are valuable.
- proof
- a specially produced coin made from highly polished planchets and dies and often struck twice to accent the design.
- proof set
- a complete set of proof coins of each denomination made in a year.
- reeding
- raised lines across the edge of a coin.
- relief
- opposite of incuse, the part of a coin's design that is raised above the surface.
- restrike
- a coin that is minted using the original dies but at a later date.
- reverse
- the back (or "tails") side of a coin.
- riddler
- a machine that screens out blanks (planchets) that are the wrong size or shape
- rim
- the raised edge on both sides of a coin (created by the upsetting mill) that helps protect the coin's design from wear.
- roll
- coins packaged by banks or dealers. The number of coins in a roll depends on the denomination: 50 cents, 40 nickels, 50 dimes, 40 quarters, 20 half dollars, or 20 dollar
- seal
- an official symbol or mark.
- series
- a collection of coins that contains all date and mint marks of a specific design and denomination. For example, a Kennedy series would include a Kennedy half dollar from each year since the coins were first issued.
- strike
- the process of stamping a coin blank with a design. The strength of the imprint - full, average, or weak - affects the value of rare coins.
- type set
- a collection of coins based on denomination. For example, a nickel type set would contain one of each of the four types of nickels that the United States Mint has produced.
- uncirculated
- a coin in new condition that doesn't have any signs of wear.
- upsetting mill
- a machine that raises the rim on both sides of a blank (planchet).
- variety
- a minor change from the basic design type of a coin.
- year set
- a collection of all coins issued by a country for any one year (does not necessarily include every mint mark).
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